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Willes: Make no mistake, the B.C. Lions are Benevides’ team now

The Lions coach looks to put his own stamp on the squad, which included hiring his own coordinators

Offensive co-ordinator Khari Jones runs QB Travis Lulay through drills during the B.C. Lions’ minicamp at the practice facility in Surrey on Tuesday.

Photograph by: Arlen Redekop
, PROVINCE

As he contemplates the scattered remains of the B.C. Lions’ inglorious 2013 season, Travis Lulay takes solace from one memory that stands out among the rubble.

True, that memory is from a playoff game which the Lions, you know, lost, and that might be the ultimate commentary on last season. But after struggling through a year characterized by inconsistency, injuries and, most notably, a tepid 11-7 record, the Lions went into Regina on a frozen November afternoon, put the eventual Grey Cup champs down on the mat, then watched them rise and eventually win the day, largely because Darian Durant turned into a superhero in the fourth quarter.

The Lions, to be sure, have never counted moral victories in the Wally Buono era. But after suffering so many indignities through the regular season, that game in Regina, in which they rushed for 213 yards and produced 424 yards in total offence, reminded the Lions of who they are and what they can be.

Now, as they start a new season, there are many questions confronting this team. Their identity is not one of them.

“You’ve got to be careful saying that’s the template because we lost the game,” Lulay said. “But how we played that game — sound defence, efficient offence — is the team we want to be. We played a physical game and that’s who we are.”

While the opening of their training camp is still a month away, the Lions reintroduced themselves to the province this week with a three-day camp for quarterbacks and receivers. Lulay, who missed six games with a shoulder injury, is back, and the Lions’ chances of being the host team in the Grey Cup game in November resides with the quarterback.

But this season is notable for other reasons. The Lions’ lineup will feature familiar faces interspersed with a handful of newbies — including a revamped offensive line — but the biggest changes are on the coaching staff, where Khari Jones takes over from Jacques Chapdelaine as the offensive co-ordinator and Mark Washington succeeds Rich Stubler as the defensive co-ordinator.

Both the outgoing men had their critics, but whatever else they were, Stubler represents over 40 years experience in the CFL and Chapdelaine has been coaching for some 25 years. Jones will be in his sixth year of coaching. This will be Washington’s first year as a co-ordinator after six seasons as a Lions’ assistant.

“We have two young men who are very intelligent who have the opportunity to take the next step in their careers,” Leos head coach Mike Benevides said of Jones and Washington.

“But it also means I want to do things differently on my football team. What you’re going to get first and foremost is a different attitude and a different approach.”

Then Benevides added this: “The guys who are here clearly understand this is my football team.”

The comment was volunteered and it might be a mistake to read too much into it. But, given the considerable shadow cast by Buono, Benevides’ place on the team merits some discussion. The head coach is back for his third year, and, thus far, he’s gone 24-12 in the regular season. That, however, has been offset by an 0-2 record in the playoffs which might be the more relevant measuring stick.

Late last season, moreover, Buono made his displeasure with the coaching staff known and appeared to take an active role in redesigning the Lions’ running game. They responded with wins over Edmonton and Calgary in their final two games, then the near-miss in Regina.

Benevides was asked why he went out of his way to declare this was his team.

“The shadow of Wally will never go away,” he said. “I understand that, but I also understand we’re better together than we are apart.”

The two men also have a working relationship that stretches back over 15 years. Still, it should be noted Benevides inherited Chapdelaine and Stubler, while Jones and Washington are his guys, which should mean there won’t be any confusion about Benevides’ preferred style of play.

If you were wondering, it goes back to that playoff loss in Regina. As for the start of the season, the Lions will have a healthy Lulay at quarterback, a running game with Andrew Harris and Stefan Logan, and a tough, physical defence which may or may not include the always-fascinating Khalif Mitchell.

“If anyone knows him, I know him,” Benevides said of the free-agent defensive tackle who’s a huge talent and can be a huge distraction.

“I think there’s a lot of misconceptions about him.”

We’ll know soon enough if the Lions think he’s worth the risk. Then again, we’ll know a lot of things about this team soon enough.

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